Clemson swept James Madison by a combined score of 17-2 in the season-opening, three-game series from February 17-19 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Tiger batters combined for a .286 batting average and seven stolen bases, but the story for Clemson was its outstanding pitching. The staff allowed just 10 hits, two runs (one earned), and seven walks with 36 strikeouts in 27.0 innings pitched. The three starting pitchers (Jason Berken, Stephen Faris, Josh Cribb) combined for 16.0 innings pitched, and allowed just five hits, no runs, two walks, and 22 strikeouts. Tyler Colvin hit three solo homers, and Adrian Casanova went 4-for-7 in the series. Taylor Harbin missed the final two games of the series due to a hamstring injury. His status will be re-evaluated later in the week.

In the season-opener and the first game of a doubleheader on February 17 against James Madison, Berken pitched 5.0 scoreless innings in his first outing in nearly two years to earn the victory in Clemson's 8-1 win. Berken struck out nine batters, while only allowing two hits, no runs, and one walk. Colvin added two home runs, both solo shots. It was his first career two-homer game. Casanova went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. Marquez Smith also had three runs scored in his first game as a Tiger. Clemson outhit the Dukes 11-4, as nine different Tigers had at least one hit.

In game two, which was the second game of a doubleheader on February 17, three Tiger pitchers combined to allow just one hit in Clemson's 3-0 victory. James Madison managed just one single and a walk, as the Dukes sent 29 batters to the plate in the game. Faris allowed only one hit and no walks with six strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched to earn the win against the team from his home state of Virginia. Daniel Moskos pitched 2.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts, while Steve Richard earned his first career save by pitching a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts. Colvin added another solo homer, giving him three in one day. Smith also hit his first career long ball as a Tiger. The game duration was just under two hours (1:59).

In game three on February 19, Clemson won 6-1 despite totaling just two RBIs thanks to several James Madison miscues. The Tigers scored three runs in the fourth inning without the benefit of an RBI and with only one hit, a leadoff single by Andy D'Alessio. D'Alessio scored on an error, Stan Widmann scored on a balk, and Herman Demmink came across on a wild pitch. Casanova added a solo homer, the first of his career at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, and Demmink had a game-high three hits. Travis Storrer saw his 12-game hitting streak come to an end. Tiger batters walked 10 times, while five Tiger pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts. Cribb earned the win by pitching 5.0 innings, allowing two hits, no runs, and one walk with seven strikeouts.

Clemson Tops Baseball America Rankings

DURHAM, N.C. -- Clemson tops Baseball America's weekly college baseball rankings for the third straight week following a 3-0 start to its season. The Tigers held James Madison to one earned run in a three-game sweep.

The next four teams remained the same: Florida, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Rice. Tennessee moved up to No. 6, replacing Oregon State, which slipped two spots to No. 8 after losing a series at Pepperdine.

Nebraska entered the Top 25 for the first time following a 3-1 opening week that included a win against North Carolina State, which is ranked 20th this week. Stanford, which opened the year 3-0, has lost three of its last five games and dropped out of the rankings.

The staff of Baseball America determines the Top 25 rankings. Records indicated are through games of Feb. 19 and do not include ties.

TUCSON, Ariz. - The University of Florida (6-1) has been ranked No. 1
for the third straight Collegiate Baseball newspaper poll.

Over the past weekend, the Gators swept a 3-game series at Miami, Fla.
by scores of 2-1, 4-1 and 11-10. Florida had never been perfect against
the Hurricanes in a 3-game set and became the first team to take all
three games in Coral Gables since Florida St. accomplished the feat
during the 2002 season.

Poll Notes: In other key series across the nation, Pepperdine took two
of three from previously second ranked Oregon St. Texas and Stanford
split the first two games of their series at Stanford. Four teams from
the Atlantic Coast Conference are in this week's top 10, including
second ranked Clemson (3-0), fifth ranked North Carolina (3-0), sixth
ranked Florida St. (7-1), and seventh ranked Georgia Tech. (6-0).

Other teams which are playing well include Tulane (6 wins in a row) and
Arkansas (6 consecutive wins). Clemson, which moved to second this
week, is 3-0 after sweeping James Madison, 8-1, 3-0 and 6-1. The Tiger
pitching staff posted 36 strikeouts in 27 innings while allowing only
one earned run in three games.

The Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll is the oldest college baseball poll.
Its birth took place during the 1957 college baseball season.